Hoyle Elementary School students get school pics taken

Monday

Mar 24, 2014 at 9:00 PM

The children were dressed mostly casual for their spring picture day. More formal photos are taken in the fall.

FALL RIVER — “Hello Princess,” photographer Sharon Arruda said to the little girl — dressed in a red top, jeans and black boots that came to just below her knees — when it was her turn to step up for Hoyle Elementary School’s spring picture day.

Arruda of Lifetouch Photography patted down the girl’s bangs and maneuvered the barrette holding back her shoulder length light brown hair until it was just so. She adjusted the table and crossed the child’s arms.

“Gorgeous,” Arruda said. “All set princess? Say ‘stinky.’”

When the little girl smiled at the choice word, Arruda snapped the picture and was on to the next child.

The children from each kindergarten to second grade classroom came into the gymnasium and formed a haphazard line. The children sat on the floor and chatted, clapped, and played as quiet as one can at that age.

Second graders Erica Baxter, 7, and Damien Caetano, 8, sat on a bench side-by-side when their photos were complete. They may have been a couple, but Caetano would only admit that they were “very, very close.”

“She said it was ugly,” said Caetano, gesturing toward Baxter. “I never take her advice.”

“You didn’t wear it,” Baxter said.

“It wasn’t washed,” Caetano quipped.

Baxter swung her legs and talked about acting in some local plays. The girl wore a red plaid blouse with silver threading.

“It’s one of my favorite shirts,” Baxter said. “Me and my dad were rushing. I only had seven minutes to get ready.”

The children were dressed mostly casual for their spring picture day. More formal photos are taken in the fall. Some of the kids, however, decided picture day was still an occasion to veer away from their regular school wardrobe.